How I started a side hustle working as a travel agent, specializing in Disney vacations

Publish date: 2024-06-30
2022-08-28T20:07:09Z

This is an as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chelsea Guffy, who recently began a side hustle as a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Last year, I noticed on social media that one of my sorority sisters had started working as a travel agent on a lot of Disney vacations and working for a travel agency called ET Family Travel.

I had a Disney vacation coming up that November, and I had already booked the whole thing but I had asked her if she could get me dining reservations, because those are the hardest thing to get at Disney World, and she agreed. She helped me get all the dining reservations that I wanted.

Then she said to me, "Chelsea, you know Disney in and out. You should come on as an agent." So, I thought about it, and come the new year I thought to myself, "Okay, this could be something really cool." I joined the team and I fell in love with it.

Travel is just in my blood, and I love booking vacations for my family, so it was a no-brainer.

I grew up in Florida about two hours away from Disney World and grew up going.

Chelsea Guffy recently began a side hustle as a travel agent, is seen here at Epcot Center with the iconic "golf ball" after starting a side hustle as a travel agent..isney vacations Chelsea Guffy

 The first time I went, I was probably three weeks old. I've always had a love for travel – I studied abroad in college, and when I was growing up my family would take trips at least once a year to different places all over the country.

Travel is just in my blood, and I love booking vacations for my family, so it was a no-brainer that I'd like doing it for other people.

The agency I work for focuses on Disney and family-friendly trips, so most agents focus on theme park vacations. However, we do all kinds of travel. I mainly focused on Disney at first, but then I got requests from my friends, so I decided to branch out.

I did a United Kingdom trip for a friend of mine in June, and now I'm doing another UK trip as well as a New York trip. I've also helped with California trips and even staycations.

My clientele is primarily my friends and people in my network, but now I've had two clients who I did not know previously – one reached out to me through my social media, and another was a referral through the agency.

Chelsea Guffy who has started a side hustle as a travel agent says that "travel is just in my blood, and I love booking vacations for my family, so it was a no-brainer that I’d like doing it for other people." Chelsea Guffy

I'm able to help my clients save a lot of time. I have a lot of knowledge; while they might need months to plan a trip, I can do it for them in three weeks. Sometimes I also find lower prices for them.

I also make sure to tell my clients that this is my second job and that I have a full-time job. I try to give as much time to my clients as I can – but I make sure to set expectations.

I do also get benefits like free Disney tickets and discounts at hotels.

As a side hustle, it's nice to have the extra cash. I am an independent contractor who makes money based on commissions from the theme parks and hotels. There can also be perks from vendors we work with, which is a benefit for a travel enthusiast like myself.

The amount of time I spend on the job varies, but I average 12 to 15 hours a week in addition to my full-time job. I start as soon as my son goes to bed, so 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. are my prime.  It works because I'm a person that likes to be busy - we're always go, go, go.

 

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